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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.apz.20061121 Aspen Plannin!! & Zonin!! Commission Meetin!! Minutes November 21. 2006 COMMENTS ............................................................................................................ 2 MINUTES .................:...............................................................................................2 DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST .............................................2 CIVIC MASTER PLAN ADOPTION......................................................................2 ASPEN HIGHLANDS VILLAGE PUD AMENDMENT .......................................8 1 Aspen Plannin!! & Zonin!! Commission Meetin!! Minutes November 21. 2006 Jasmine Tygre opened the regular meeting at 4:30 pm in the Sister Cities Meeting Room. Commissioners Brian Speck, Dylan Johns, Ruth Kruger, Steve Skadron (4:35), John Rowland (4:45) and Jasmine Tygre were present. Staff in attendance were Ben Gagnon, Joyce Allgaier and Jessica Garrow, Community Development; Jackie Lothian, Deputy City Clerk. COMMENTS Jasmine Tygre asked what was happening with the Caribou Alley Enclosure. Joyce Allgaier responded that it was going before HPC soon. Allgaier said that she would send an emai1 about the application for the Caribou Alley to the commlSSlOners. Allgaier said Community Development would host a luncheon work session regarding the code changes next week. MINUTES MOTION: Steve Skadron moved to approve the minutes from October 3 and 17, 2006; seconded by Brian Speck. Dylan Johns abstained. Approved 5-0. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST None. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING (10/24/06,11/14/06): CIVIC MASTER PLAN ADOPTION Jasmine Tygre opened the continued public hearing. Notice had been provided in October. Ben Gagnon stated that he walked through a slide show at the October 24th public hearing showing the different sections. Gagnon said Appendix A provided additional background of the sites, some historical information and the Rio Grande Master Plan. Gagnon said there was discussion at the previous meeting for the lack of planning for some ofthe areas. Gagnon asked P&Z to adopt a condition that would add historical information to the main document. Gagnon said the 1993 master plan looked at Rio Grande Park as well as some of the areas to the south coming up to Galena Plaza and over toward the Obermeyer area; there were a number of recommendations carried out with a basketball and skate park as well as getting rid of vehicle access at the east end of the park and establishing pedestrian paths. Gagnon said the west end of the park contained the field, the parking area south of Rio Grande Place and encompassing part of Galena Plaza next to the library, all were purchased with ih penny transportation funds in 1973. Gagnon said there was planning going on at the City and County levels regarding a regional rail 2 Aspen Plannin!! & Zonin!! Commission Meetin!! Minutes November 21. 2006 system coming from the Denver & Rio Grande alignment. Gagnon stated the 1993 plan continued to make the assumption that rail system would become a reality and the west end of Rio Grande Park including the field was anticipated to be part rail terminus area and in the mid 1990s that regional rail system fell apart and was ultimately abandoned however the land in that area including the parking lots and part of Galena Plaza was purchased with 7th penny funds if that land was used for anything other than transportation it would go to a city vote to change the use of the land from transportation to some other use. Gagnon said specifically there was discussion about the parking lots between Rio Grande field, Community Banks and the ACRA Offices, which was a six year process in terms of how they came up with those recommendations on the parking lots. The Rio Grande Master Plan cited those parking lots to remain as parking lots with the possibility of potential uses for the parking lot were neighborhood commercial retail (targeted to neighborhoods). The potential upper floor uses being affordable housing and another potential use for the area was an Arts or Cultural Facility, which was a complicated proposal. Gagnon said there were lots ofrevisiting of the issues over the years and over the last year the advisory group drafted and re-drafted all the findings and recommendations; the group literally used the thumbs up or thumbs down or if they wanted to talk about the subject some more then they would put their thumb sideways. Gagnon said they did not stop until all the thumbs were up; there were a lot of issues and that was why it took so long to draft the 50 findings and 65 recommendations. Gagnon said that Galena Plaza has a zag through it noting there was a triangle portion of it purchased with ih penny funds and the balance of the property was part of a 1982 City County land trade; there used to be stables on that property. In 1989 and 1990 the Council approved a Specially Planned Area (SPA) for the library and parking garage and the plaza on the top, which was approved for a people place with landscaping and not considered for parking. It was important that this area not become a dead space. The advisory group found that it was a dead space; people were not using it and one of the findings for the Civic Master Plan was to provide a public meeting hall on the north end of that property. Another potential for Galena Plaza was a visitor center with a very nice view. Gagnon said that when you are looking at so many uses and so many areas it can free up some space in other areas. Jasmine Tygre asked about the 6th penny funds for open space. Gagnon replied the 6th penny funds apply to the area right by the river and the Rio Grande Park Master Plan was to recreate the riparian area; one of the main goals was to clean storm 3 Aspen Plannin!! & Zonin!! Commission Meetin!! Minutes November 21. 2006 water; today the storm water runs into the river and one of the goals of the Civic Master Plan was to create clean water with a series of 2 or 3 vaults that would literally take storm water bring it through a treatment underground and make little creeks and small ponds. Gagnon said there were no buildings in the riparian area and the 6th penny was to restore that area. Public Comments: I. Kent Reed said that he founded Theatre Aspen in 1983 and last summer he initiated an outdoor Shakespearean Theatre in the Galena Plaza space. Reed said the space created a natural amphitheatre and with imagination the space could be utilized. Reed said that he did not know that Galena Place was available for smaller groups and under utilized; they could use the space for rehearsals, small one act plays and dances. 2. Junee Kirk said that she was very much interested in the former Youth Center Space, which was part of this master plan. Kirk said that she wanted to bring community dance to that area along with many other groups like performing arts, religious meetings and it was only in the last couple of weeks that they were made aware of this space. Kirk noted there was a tremendous amount of demand and interest in that beautiful area, which was a commons area that serves not only dance groups but civic government needs. Kirk said that the commission should not vote on this master plan and many citizens should be involved for greater input and should not be used for public offices. Kirk said in the new Civic Master Plan did not give consideration to scale, being smaller buildings so that views and open space can be appreciated. 3. LJ Erspamer asked how much weight could be supported on the parking garage, a one-story building and did you know there was water underneath the parking garage. Gagnon replied that he knew about the water and a one-story building was what it could support. Erspamer asked if the surface parking spaces would be lost. Gagnon replied the future use of this plan would have to show consistency with the plan; the advisory group acknowledged the need for short term parking in that surface parking area. 4. Jackie Kasabach stated that she was a member of the master plan group. Kasabach said the Galena Plaza may be made slightly smaller but it would not go away; the objective would be to create a more lively interactive space. Kasabach said that she enjoyed what Kent did this summer and felt that was what Galena Plaza was supposed to be. Kasabach said that the library had the right to extend so many feet and has nothing to do with this master plan. Kasabach said the Rio Grande room was beautiful but the acoustics were not good. 4 Aspen Plannin!! & Zonin!! Commission Meetin!! Minutes November 21. 2006 5. Dennis Tuma said that he became aware of the Rio Grande meeting space when he set up a weekend workshop for the Friends of Tibet, which could be transformed into a wonderful space. Tuma said that he was begging for space to enrich the community. Tuma suggested moving office space down valley. 6. Sue Smeadstead said that she was involved with the Youth Center and funds that came from the City and County; the Youth Center raised dollars and Prince Bandar gave $500,000. to the board president and in 2003 the Youth Center was included in new Aspen Recreation Center. Smeadstead said at that time they traded the old Youth Center Building to the City for the 1.4 million dollar investment in the Aspen Recreation Center, so they own their space at the ARC. Smeadstead said the meeting space at the old Youth Center (the top floor) was rented as meeting space to many different groups since 1990. 7. Toni Kronberg said there was an easy solution to getting this plan passed, which would be to add multiple uses with the existing uses. Kronberg said that she was most interested in the Library Park Plaza, the 3 asphalt parking lots and the current recycle center at Rio Grande Park. Kronberg distributed a black and white photo taken from Smuggler of the area for an overview of Rio Grande Park. 8. Bill Lipsey spoke as a citizen and a member of the advisory group. Lipsey said that he didn't think that there were any private properties governed by this document; he didn't think that a group would come in with private property expecting entitlements because it was public properties. Lipsey said that during the course oflooking at the Civic Master Plan the Obermeyer Place was discussed and certain guidelines (a public process called a COWOP) were applied to a private entity. Obermeyer retained SCI, built walkways and the result came out extremely well representing revitalization. Lipsey said there were so many built in checks and balances between this document and anything that has ever been done; it has to go to City Council and the document remains a recommendation. Jasmine Tygre spoke as a member ofP&Z on the original plan and the reason she voiced concern for the importance of the ih penny tax in acquiring these funds. Tygre said the ih penny was for transportation related purposes and not specifically a train but transit related purposes. Tygre thanked Ben for the information and the public who have brought forth past information. Tygre said that part of her concern was that it was putting the cart before the horse; until you get permission from the voters to change the use of the ih penny sales tax to something else a lot of this was premature. Gagnon responded to the discussion of spaces to use for the arts and the advisory group felt strongly about it; there was talk ofthe shared meeting space and there 5 ASDen Planninl! & Zoninl! Commission Meetinl! Minutes November 21, 2006 were a number of sites that could happen. There was a strong commitment to retaining a space for a meeting hall in that area. John Rowland said there were good thoughts and the imagination was a good point. Rowland said that the Civic Master Plan was just a tool for imagination. Dylan Johns asked the ramification of voting on this plan as far as implementing these policies and shaping the course of history. Gagnon said the immediate effect was making a recommendation to Council; Council does the final adoption via ordinance. Gagnon said the way it was a regulatory document was that it would be referenced in the Code as the Aspen Area Community Plan was referenced. Johns said there was a tremendous amount of work done to get to this point. Johns said there could be an enhancement to what businesses were on site; there were needs throughout the community for spaces. Johns said that the old Youth Center may need some renovation because it was not a perfect space but it did not mean that it was to be turned into cubicles either. Johns would like to see that incorporated into the document. Gagnon responded that the group said that a newer renovated old Youth Center Building could be a welcoming and interactive destination that capitalizes on the vistas, creates vitality and could include mixed uses and or a range of civic and or cultural uses. Steve Skadron agreed with John's and Dylan's comments. Skadron asked if Junee's concerns were addressed. Gagnon replied the plan allowed for lots of different scenarios; the conditions could remain the same at the former Youth Center for the next 20 years and until someone comes forward with an idea for the building. Gagnon said there was a strong input from the advisory group for public meeting space with the different scenarios. Gagnon said there were no entitlements in the Master Plan so that any building that goes up on any public lands would go through numerous hoops. Gagnon said that nobody wants to hear about building a government building but the City of Aspen was an activist government and does a lot; the Aspen Area Community Plan has 47 goals, 40 policies and 99 action items. Gagnon said the standards were high and that was great because it makes everyone go higher and try harder but in order to satisfy that demand you need people and space for professionals to interact with one another and not in little rabbit hutches. Joyce Allgaier stated this wasn't a development plan because it doesn't entitle anyone; the tools that would be guiding recommendations would be this document, a PUD, a SPA or other land uses. Skadron complimented the team that put this plan together with the years of work. Skadron said the plan was insightful, comprehensive and something that he could support; it had enough flexibility to allow for imagination. 6 Aspen Plannin!! & Zonin!! Commission Meetin!! Minutes November 21. 2006 Ruth Kruger said this was very well thought out and was loosely written in so far that it was a guiding document; it doesn't say exactly what needs to go where but it was something to refer to when you look at all of these spaces to make sure that the whole space was put together well containing all of the elements that need to be in those areas. Brian Speck said that he was in agreement in the sense oflooking at a lot of structures and civic space that was created in the past that may need to be modified. Speck said he looked at this as an overview of civic needs of the community. Jasmine Tygre said that she saw this as an enabling of development document as it was written. Tygre said the existing uses addition would be helpful because if a particular use was a considered use in an area regardless of who the applicant was might be perceived as an entitlement because it was in the plan. Tygre said that she did not want to sound disrespectful to the work done by the committee but she said that she has been through this before. Tygre said that the Youth Center Building was a classic example of building in front of that staircase, part of the plan was a continuous vista from Rio Grande Park to Aspen Mountain; the plan was not to use the Rio Grande building for governmental offices and look what occupies the building. Tygre said that history does repeat itself so she will vote against this proposal. Johns wanted to add the enhancement of the existing uses and recognizing there could be some changes to the way those things were laid out but still have them function as they do now. Johns expressed the desire of dropping the office component down to the lowest priority for this site. Johns said the preferred site for offices would be the Zupancis property or an adjacency to an existing office use versus the old Youth Center that had potential for public and arts uses. Gagnon said this was reflected in the findings and recommendations on the site. Johns said that his goal was to make it more specific in clustering uses. MOTION: Dylan Johns moved to approve Resolution #31, series 2006 recommending that City Council adopt the Civic Master Plan with conditions including a statement to the effect that like uses should be attempted to cluster around themselves when possible and that existing uses be allowed and allowed to be enhanced if desired. Seconded by Ruth Kruger. Roll call vote: Rowland, yes; Skadron, yes; Speck, yes; Kruger, yes; Johns, yes; Tygre, no. APPROVED 5-1. Discussion: Tygre requested the resolution be emailed to the commissioners with the addition of the language added. Allgaier suggested the resolution would be 7 Aspen Plannin!! & Zonin!! Commission Meetin!! Minutes November 21. 2006 carried forward to City Council and that Ben should explain that those were P&Z recommendations to be added to the document. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING: ASPEN HIGHLANDS VILLAGE PUD AMENDMENT Jasmine Tygre opened the continued public hearing for the Aspen Highlands Village PUD Amendment. Glen Horn planner for the applicant said they would like to start all at the same time and at another time. Jessica Garrow stated the proof of public notice had been provided. MOTION: Ruth Kruger moved to continue the Aspen Highlands Village PUD Amendment to December 5'\. seconded by Dylan Johns" All infavor, Approved. Meeting adjourned at 7:00 pm. ckie Lothian, Deputy City Clerk 8